adSep 21, 2026, 16:43

Minister confirms: hospitals to perform late-term abortions

Dutch Minister of Public Health Sophie Hermans confirmed that several hospitals in the Netherlands will begin performing more late-term abortions for pregnancies between 22 and 24 weeks. The initiative is intended to improve domestic care access, though it has faced political criticism from parties like the SGP who view the expansion as concerning.

Minister of Public Health Sophie Hermans has confirmed that several hospitals in the Netherlands are preparing to perform more late-term abortions for pregnancies between 22 and 24 weeks. This initiative, described by the ministry as an exploratory phase rather than a formal pilot program, aims to improve domestic care accessibility so women do not have to travel abroad for these procedures. Participating hospitals are not being forced to perform the surgeries, and staff members are permitted to opt out based on personal objections. While the government maintains that this does not constitute a legal change, the move has sparked controversy among political parties like the SGP, which characterizes the initiative as a significant expansion of abortion practices.

While the government has not publicly disclosed the names of all participating institutions, the OLVG hospital in Amsterdam has confirmed its involvement in exploratory discussions. Minister Hermans emphasized that these procedures, limited to approximately four per hospital, are intended to help staff gain experience under professional guidance within the framework of existing Dutch abortion laws.

Politics Health Netherlands

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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